German Blood Certificate
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A German Blood Certificate (Deutschblütigkeitserklärung) was a document provided to Mischlinge (those with partial Jewish heritage) during the Second World War that allowed exemption from Germany's racial laws. The certificate was conditional, and had a clause stating that it would be reconsidered after the cessation of hostilities.
Hitler insisted on reviewing each application personally, and would reportedly pore over military records, letters of recommendation and study the photographs of those seeking a Certificate.
Notable certificate holders
- Commander Paul Ascher, staff officer on the Bismarck
- Major Ernst Bloch, a veteran of the First World War, he had fought at Verdun, the Somme, Champagne and Flanders. He was promoted to Lt Colonel during the Second World War, but was discharged after Heinrich Himmler made a personal protest to Hitler
- Major Robert Borchardt, originally discharged for his Jewish heritage in 1934, he was reinstated after receiving a German Blood Certificate
- SS Gen. Curt von Gottberg lobbied to have his two Jewish nephews exempted, and in 1940 they both received the GBC.
- Generaloberst Gotthard Heinrici received Certificates for his half-Jewish wife, Gertrude, and their children.
- Col Walter Hollaender, winner of the Knight's Cross, member of the Reichswehr
- Anton Mayer, Wehrmacht
- Field Marshall Erhard Milch; his personal friend Hermann Göring later falsified records to hide evidence that Milch's father was Jewish.
- Admiral Bernhard Rogge
- Alexander Stahlberg
- General Johannes Zukertort, a half-Jew
Assumed holders of the certificate
- Luftwaffe General Helmut Wilberg, a half-Jew
- Werner Goldberg, who was used in the Ideal German poster campaign
- Horst Geitner
- Hermann Aub
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